Mario Kart World is an ambitious take on the tried-and-true mascot racing formula that mostly succeeds in its ambitions. The open world could use a bit more content, and I’m not quite sold on 24 players, but the visuals, new Knockout Tour mode, and multiplayer make this a more than worthwhile Nintendo Switch 2 launch title.
Mario Kart World
Developer: Nintendo
Price: $80
Platforms: Nintendo Switch 2
With the launch of the Nintendo Switch 2, it makes sense for one of Nintendo’s biggest franchises to receive a new entry alongside the release. This time around, it’s Mario Kart, and though I’m not the biggest fan of racing games, Mario Kart and its ilk have always been fun to me. Mario Kart World is no exception, as the added modes and gorgeous visuals outweigh the newest installment’s growing pains.
One of the major new features of Mario Kart World is the open world that can be traversed in Free Roam. Essentially, many of the game’s courses are interconnected on a huge map, which players can drive around as any character. While it’s fun to explore and take on short missions and the like, most of the open world feels a bit empty without a lot to do. It’s a neat feature, but I didn’t find myself feeling the need to play it much.
The usual modes like Grand Prix and Battle are present and as chaotic and fun as ever, but the new Knockout Tour mode is definitely the highlight of the package. In this mode, you take part in a six-track race with no breaks between maps, as you have to drive between each while staying ahead of your opponents. If you fall behind a certain position, which changes depending on the lap, you’re eliminated – not unlike a racing battle royale. I had a blast running through all the cups, as they felt like skill-testing endurance gauntlets unlike any racing mode I’ve played.
“I was pleasantly surprised to hear some Mario Paint music in there, which is just one example of how diverse the range of songs are.“
My primary concern with Mario Kart World comes from the increased number of players in each race. Increasing the racers to 24 has a tendency to make races feel a tad bit busy, as it’s much easier to get bombarded with items in a row when you’re winning since there are so many more players. A little lucky nonsense is expected in Mario Kart, but with so many racers, it feels a bit overwhelming this time around. This isn’t always the case, but it’s certainly more frequent than in past entries.
Otherwise, playing Mario Kart World is a top-notch kart racing experience. Hitting drifts and speeding by your foes in a thrilling feeling, and being able to stock two items makes for a more strategic experience. The addition of wallriding and grinding on rails for additional boosts is a lot of fun too, as is collecting the many outfits that the main racers can all wear. There’s a huge variety of characters and outfits to play as, ranging from expected racers to the cow from Moo Moo Meadows. If you have any attachment to a particular Mario enemy, chances are you can play as them this time around.
I also had no issues with online when I played it, though the wait between races feels just the slightest bit slow. I found each race to be responsive without lag or other similar issues, with the same experience being had in Battle mode. Since online will be what really keeps this game alive in the long run, this is a good sign for the game’s future.
Mario Kart World has fantastic visuals.
Mario Kart World is quite a gorgeous game, combining the colorful and cartoony style of the Mario franchise with impressive detail. Textures get wet in the rain, characters move in slight ways that show off their personalities, and the tracks are vivid and diverse. It’s the prettiest-looking Mario Kart game by a mile and a great showcase of what the Switch 2 can bring to Nintendo’s first-party franchises.
The soundtrack really impressed me too, being made up of snazzy new remixes of tracks from across the Mario franchise. I was pleasantly surprised to hear some Mario Paint music in there, which is just one example of how diverse the range of songs are.
The Final Word
Mario Kart World is a solid next step for the world’s top mascot racing franchise and a great launch title for the Nintendo Switch 2. There’s lots to unlock and some truly exciting modes to try, even if free roam could use a bit more content. If you want to have an exciting time racing around impressive courses – especially with friends – then you can’t really go wrong with Mario Kart World.
MonsterVine Rating: 4.5 out of 5 – Great
